Council wants $70 million cross-river bridge scrapped

Brisbane City Council wants a proposed $70 million bridge that would connect the Queen’s Wharf casino complex to South Bank scrapped.

Deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner said the proposed pedestrian-only Neville Bonner Bridge was a waste of money.

Brisbane City Council wants the proposed Neville Bonner Bridge from the new casino and hotel complex to South Bank near the Wheel of Brisbane scrapped.

“I think it’s actually time we bit the bullet when it comes to the Neville Bonner bridge, that bridge should not be built as it is proposed,” he said.

“I think that it would be a waste of $70 million to build a bridge that only services pedestrians.

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“It’s my understanding that in the contract of Queen's Wharf Brisbane that the consortium that won that contract, Destination Brisbane Consortium, has a clause in their contract either where they build the bridge or they pay the state government $70 million.”

The Neville Bonner Bridge was proposed to run from the fourth floor of the casino and hotel complex at Queen's Wharf across to a small tower with a lift and a set of stairs at South Bank near the Wheel of Brisbane.

Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the Neville Bonner bridge was a waste of money.

Cr Schrinner said he would prefer Destination Brisbane scrapped the bridge and handed the State Government $70 million so something that worked for all of Brisbane could be delivered.

He said the money could be used to improve cross-river connectivity, particularly between West End and the City, or the money could be used to widen paths on either side of Victoria Bridge.

“That bridge proposal is not going to work, it will not work, whether it's for cyclists or whether it is for CityCat operation I think we need to scrap it and come up with an option that works for the city and for the state,” Cr Shrinner said.

Cr Schrinner urged the state government to strongly consider the council's view.

"I'm confident that with some good cooperation between the state and council we can achieve a very positive outcome for the city that helps reduce traffic congestion by supporting active travel into the CBD," he said.

Comment has been sought from the Destination Brisbane Consortium and the state government.